ECYEH is the Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness Awareness Program. ECYEH is an initiative that is based on the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.

    Mrs. Migdalia Gunoskey is the school social worker at John S. Clarke Elementary Center and the PASD homeless student liaison. She is also the McKinney-Vento coordinator at PASD. She is a part of ECYEH Awareness Week, which takes place annually from November 13-17.

    “We wanted to make sure that students who are experiencing homelessness know that the school supports them, and we will do what we can to remove any barriers which prevent them from accessing their education,” Mrs. Gunoskey said.

    Children and youth are able to apply for services under the McKinney-Vento Act if they have been removed from their homes and are living in a place that is not regular or adequate. These services are available to those who are:
1. Sharing the housing of others due to the loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason.
2. In a place not designated as regular sleeping accommodation, such as a vehicle, park, hotel, or campground.
3. In a homeless or domestic violence shelter or transitional housing placement.
4. Outside of his or her home as an unaccompanied youth

5. In any of the situations listed above as the child of a migrant family.

    The numbers of homeless children are rising every year because of factors such as natural disasters, crimes, fires and the lack of parental control in some families.

     According to the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania, there are about 16,200 homeless people in Pennsylvania. Of those, 13,000 are estimated to be homeless children. The goal of ECYEH is not only to spread awareness for young adolescent homelessness, but to reduce the numbers as well.